Collapsible trailer

ABSTRACT

A collapsible trailer includes a first platform and a second platform which is pivotably mounted to the first platform so that the second platform may move between an open and closed position. A support arm is mounted on the first platform and extends to contact the second platform at a position substantially away from the pivot axis of the second platform when in the open position. The support arms shares a load applied to the second platform between the first platform and the second platform.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/922,106, filed Jul. 29, 1992 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,340,145.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a trailer which is foldable upon itself for storage, and in particular, a collapsible trailer capable of supporting great weights such as motorcycles and jet skis.

Collapsible trailers are known in the art and are formed with a platform having a front portion and a rear portion. The back portion is pivotably coupled to the front platform portion so that the platform may fold upon itself. Each platform is mounted on a subframe which in turn is mounted through a leaf spring to an axle supported between the wheels. The subframe includes a flange forming an underhang extending from the front platform portion to beyond the pivot point of the back plates so that when the trailer is in the open position, i.e., the back platform portion is rotated away from the front platform portion, the underhang acts as a rotation stop and provides support for the back platform portion. Rails are provided on the front platform portion and back platform portion which when in the open position fore a continuous channel for receiving motorcycle wheels to maintain the motorcycle in place.

The prior art collapsible trailers have been satisfactory. However, they suffer from several disadvantages. First, because the back platform portion is supported by a short flange of the subframe, the support in the trailer resides in the middle of the trailer, not at the far ends of the unfolded platforms so that when a large load such as a motorcycle is provided at the end of the back platform portion when loading, the flange rather than stopping the rotation of the back platform potion becomes a pivot for further rotation and the back platform potion breaks or shears from the subframe and front platform potion. Extending the underhang to provide greater support requires an inordinate amount of material such as steel tubing, adding weight to the trailer making the trailer difficult to tow and maneuver and making the entire trailer fuel inefficient. Secondly, by utilizing a leaf spring arrangement for the wheel support requires additional bars affixed to the subframe to provide connection points for the leaf spring, adding weight to the trailer. Additionally, because all of the support for the front platform and back platform is provided at the center of the open platform, and there is no support at the extreme ends of the open platform, the platform is formed as a square with a substantially solid bedding below the rails further increasing the trailer's weight and moving the weight of the folded trailer away from the center towards the top of the trailer making the trailer extremely difficult to place in an upright position for storage. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a collapsible trailer providing support near the back and front of the open trailer while utilizing less material for lighter weight, ease of manufacture and fuel efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, a first platform portion is pivotally mounted to a second platform portion so that the second platform portion is pivotable between a closed and open position. Wheels are mounted to the first platform portion. A support arm is mounted on the first platform portion and extends substantially beyond the pivot of the first platform portion and second platform portion and provides a support for the second platform portion when the second platform portion is in the open position, the support being at a point substantially beyond the pivot.

Each platform portion includes a tubular support formed as a triangle. At least one rail is mounted on the triangular support, the rail of the first platform portion being pivotably mounted to the rail of the second platform portion so that a continuous channel is formed across the front platform portion and back platform portion when the trailer is in the open position. A support tube is affixed to the front platform and a wheel supported at both ends thereof. A second support is mounted on the second platform. The first support and second support having wheels mounted thereon and the wheels being positioned to come in contact with the ground to support the trailer when in the closed position and tilted in an orientation substantially 90° to the ground.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved collapsible trailer.

A further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible trailer which utilizes less material resulting in lighter weight, ease of manufacture and fuel efficiency.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible trailer which when in the open position provides load support away from the center of the trailer.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible trailer constructed in accordance with the invention in the open position;

FIG. 2 is a right side elevational view of a collapsible trailer constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a collapsible trailer constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a collapsible trailer construction in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of a collapsible trailer constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of a collapsible trailer constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 7 is a partial view of the collapsible trailer constructed in accordance with the invention in the open position;

FIG. 8 is a partial view showing the collapsible trailer constructed in accordance with the invention between the open and closed positions;

FIG. 9 is a partial view of the collapsible trailer constructed in accordance with the invention in the closed position;

FIG. 10 is a partial view of the collapsible trailer constructed in accordance with the invention in the closed position after tilting into an upright position relative to the ground; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the collapsible trailer constructed in accordance with the invention in the upright position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference is made to FIGS. 1-7 wherein a collapsible trailer generally indicated as 20 constructed in accordance with the invention is shown. Trailer 20 includes a front platform 22 and a rear platform 24 pivotably mounted to front platform 22. A wheel assembly, generally indicated as 26, is mounted on front platform 22. A load support assembly, generally indicated as 28, is mounted on front platform 22 and extends to come in contact with rear platform 24.

As more particularly shown in FIG. 6, rear platform 24 includes a triangular frame 30 having a base 32, a first leg 34 and a second leg 36. In a preferred embodiment, triangular frame 30 is an isosceles triangle formed of tubular steel. A cross bar 38 extends parallel to base 32 across a portion of triangle 30 where leg 34 intersects leg 36. A first rail 40 is mounted on cross bar 38, leg 34 and base 32. A second rail 42 is fixedly disposed on cross bar 38, leg 36 and base 32 substantially parallel with rail 40. A third rail 44 is mounted on cross bar 38, first leg 34, second leg 36 and base 32 of triangle 30 and is disposed between and substantially parallel to rails 40, 42. Each rail 40, 42, 44 has a floor 46 extending into opposed sides 48 forming a channel therebetween. The width of the channel is dimensioned to receive and guide a motorcycle tire therein.

By mounting rails 40, 42, 44 on triangular frame 30 and cross bar 38 rails 40, 42 and 44 are maintained fixed relative to each other. Additionally, by extending support members in the form of base 32, legs 34, 36 and cross bar 38 a support frame work is provided for supporting rails 40, 42, 44 which shares the load between rails 40, 42, 44 without utilizing a great deal of material. This reduces the weight of rear platform 24 as well as reducing the complexity of the design.

Front platform 22 has a similar construction to that of rear platform 24. A triangular frame 50 is formed with a base 52, first leg 54 and second leg 56 which are joined together to form a substantially isosceles triangle. Base 52, legs 54 and 56 are formed of tubular steel. A first rail 58 is fixedly supported between base 52 and first leg 54. The second rail 60 is also supported on triangular frame 50 between base 52 and second leg 56. A third rail 62 is fixedly mounted on triangle 50 between base 52, first leg 54 and second leg 56. Like rails 40-44, rails 58, 60 and 62 are each formed with a floor 66 which separates sides 68 to form a channel through each respective rail. Each of rails 58, 60 and 62 is formed at one end with a ramp portion 70, 72 and 74, respectively, which extend at an angle upward from floor 62 to provide a front stop within the channel formed by each respective rail.

A trailer hitch 76 extends along and beyond rail 62 and is further supported by a first support member 78 and second support member 80 forming a triangle with cross bar 52. Center rail 62 is supported on trailer hitch 76 while rails 58, 60 are supported on support members 78, 80 respectively. Trailer 20 is towed by hooking trailer hitch 76 to a car, truck or the like.

Rear platform 24 is pivotably connected to front platform 22 at rail pairs 40, 58; 44, 62; and 42, 60. Reference is made to FIG. 7 in which the pivotable connection between rail 40 and 58 is shown by way of example, each remaining rail pair being similarly coupled. Rail 40 is abuttedly disposed next to rail 58 so that a continuous channel is formed between rail 40 and rail 58. Rail 40 is formed with a pivot portion 82 having a hole therein. Rail 58 is also formed with a pivot portion 84 having a hole therein which communicates with hole 86 formed in pivot portion 82 of rail 40. A bolt 88 or the like is inserted through the communicating holes to provide a pivot axis for rail 40. Similarly, at a position across the channel formed in rails 40, 58 a bolt 90 passes through a pivot portion 92 and 94 of rails 58, 40, respectively. Accordingly, trailer 20 may collapse on itself by folding in half, by pivoting either rail 40 or rail 58 about the axis formed by bolts 88, 90. A corresponding bolt pair 88, 90 is provided at each rail pair.

Wheel assembly 26 includes a rubber suspension axle having an outer steel tube 93 containing rubber dampening elements therein. Shoulders 94 are provided at either side of outer tube 93 and are mechanically coupled to the rubber dampening mechanism contained within tube 93. Accordingly, shoulders 94 rotate relative to tube 93 independently of each other. Wheels 96 are rotatably mounted to each shoulder 95. Rails 70, 72 and 74 are also mounted on tube 93 so that tube 93 provides support and suspension above the ground for collapsible trailer 20. Additionally, tube 93 transfers the load at substantially the center of collapsible trailer 20 to the wheels 96. Fenders 97 are mounted on shoulders 94 and cover a portion of wheels 96. By utilizing such a suspension, an independent suspension is provided for shock absorption providing a smoother ride without the added structures required to utilize leaf spring construction. Such a hexagonal rubber suspension axle is manufactured by Al-Ko.

Reference is now also made to FIGS. 7-11 wherein support assemblies 28 are depicted in detail. Support assembly 28 is formed of three structures, one adjacent one wheel 96, one adjacent the other wheel 96 and one substantially centered between the first two structures.

The support assembly portion adjacent right tire 96 (as seen in FIG. 6) is shown in FIGS. 7-10 and includes a support arm generally indicated as 110. Support arm 110 is formed with a proximal end 109 and a distal end 111. Support arm 110 is mounted to rail 58 and base leg 54 at proximal end 109 at a position substantially spaced from the end of rail 58 which abuts the end of rail 40 and adjacent a portion of triangular frame 50. Support arm 110 has a first arm portion 110a which extends away from rail 50 at an angle Θ (FIG. 9). A second arm portion integrally formed with portion 110a extends from portion 110a at an angle Δ towards rail 40, when rail 40 is in the open position, i.e., not folded upon rail 58. Portion 110b extends at an angle Δ relative to portion 110a forming an elbow 119 in support arm 110. A support member 114 is mounted at the distal end of support arm 110. A second support arm 112 extends from rail 58 to support member 114 to provide additional support for support member 114 and forms two sides of a triangle with second arm portion 110b of support arm 110. A support pad 116 having an area greater than support member 114 is mounted on support member 114 and comes in contact with rail 40 when collapsible trailer 10 is in the open (unfolded) position. Support arm 110 and support arm 112 extend beyond wheel 96. A bracket 150 extends from elbow 119 to rail 58 providing further load support between rail 58 and support arm 110. A caster 118 is mounted on support member 114 and is disposed substantially orthogonally with support pad 116.

Support arm 110 is dimensioned so that proximal end 109 is affixed to rail 58 a substantial distance away from the center of rotation of rail 40 relative to rail 58 and that distal end 111 also extends a distance substantially away from the pivot point to contact rail 40 near frame 30. When trailer 20 is in the open position, rail 40 is supported on pad 116 and rail 58 is supported by support arm 110 at proximal end 109. Because of elbow 119 a portion of a downward force applied to support pad 116 changes direction from a downward force along second arm portion 110b to an upward force along first arm support section 110a. Because support arm 110 is formed as an integral unit, formed with an elbow 119, a portion of the load applied at one rail is shared with the other rail, i.e., a load applied to rail 40 is not totally supported by rail 40 but is shared with rail 58 easing the amount of load required to be supported by one rail acting independently.

An identical support structure assembly is provided adjacent the opposite wheel 96 at the other end of tube 93. Like parts are identified by like numerals so that, as seen in FIGS. 6 and 11 a support arm 110 having an upper portion 110a extends from rail 60. A support platform 116 and caster 118 are supported at an end of support arm 110.

The center portion of the support assembly includes a single support leg 120 extending from rail 44. Caster 122 is mounted thereon. Although not shown, in the contemplated embodiment a second opposed support leg 120 may be mounted on rail 62.

Operation of the collapsible trailer will now be discussed in connection with FIGS. 1-11 beginning with storage of the trailer as shown in FIG. 11. Trailer 20 is stored in the closed position in an upright manner. In the closed position, rails 40, 42, 44 are folded to overlap rails 58, 60, 62, respectively. Because support arms 110 and support legs 120 extend beyond wheel 96, when trailer 20 is in the upright position, the entire trailer 20 will be supported on the ground by casters 118, 122. Wheels 96 are lifted from the ground. Trailer 20 may now be slidably moved either into or out of storage. Because arms 110 are in an opposed spaced relationship from support leg 120, a stable three point movable base is provided for trailer 20. The support assembly thereby provides a first type of support to support the trailer in an upright position.

A conservation of space is provided in this folded position. In the open or trailer use mode collapsible trailer 20 is one hundred and four inches long and sixty-eight inches wide when folded and rotated into the upright position shown at FIG. 11 collapsible trailer 20 is sixty-eight inches wide only eighty inches high and twenty-two inches deep. Accordingly, during storage rather than requiring the same space as a small car if it is stored in the open position, collapsible 20 may be folded and wheeled into a space substantially twenty-two inches deep and eighty inches high.

To utilize trailer 20, trailer 20 is rolled from storage and pivoted about steel tube 93 in the direction of arrow A of FIG. 11 so that support shifts from casters 118, 122 to wheels 96 as shown in FIG. 9. Rear frame portion 24 is then rotated in the direction of arrow B as shown in FIG. 8 away from front frame portion 22, about the pivot axis formed by bolts 90. Rear platform portion 24 is rotated until rails 40, 42 come in contact with platforms 116. In this position, rails 40, 42, 44 form continuous channels with rails 58, 60, 62, respectively. Both support arms 110 provide support between the channels of a front platform portion and the rear platform portion. Support for the platforms is also provided by triangular frames 30, 50 as well as tube 93 and cross bar 38. Accordingly, when a motorcycle or the like is wheeled onto collapsible trailer 20, the motorcycle will first be wheeled onto a respective rail of rear platform 24, rail 40 by way of example. As the motorcycle is wheeled onto rail 40, the load upon rail 40 will increase.

In the prior art trailer this would cause an undue stress on rail 40 about the pivot point causing the collapsible trailer to break at the pivot point. However, as the load on rail 40 increases, a portion of that load is transferred through support arm 110 through pad 116 from rail 40 to rail 58 so that the load is shared while the entire mass of the motorcycle is on rear platform 24. This prevents rail 40 from pivoting beyond the open position. As a motorcycle is moved farther through the channel, the motorcycle will enter rail 58 so that the load is shared directly between rail 58 and rail 40. Additionally, by providing a unibody substructure by way of base 32 and legs 34, 36 a portion of the load is transferred between rail 40 and rails 44, 46.

Collapsible trailer 20 has a unibody construction. Each member is connected to and abuts another body member. By way of example support arm 110 abuts a rail and triangular frame 50. Triangular frames 30, 50 are formed so that each base and leg abuts another base or leg providing mutual support to each other, i.e. anchoring each other against movement, providing support and load sharing capabilities.

By providing a collapsible trailer having at least one support arm coming in contact with a rail from a rear platform portion and a rail from a front platform portion at points substantially distant from the pivot point of the respective rails, a more efficient manner for supporting the load requiring less materials is provided. By a providing a bend in the arm the efficiency of load transfer increases as F cos Δ where Δ is the angle of the bend of the elbow. By supporting the platform upon independent suspension axle utilizing shoulders at either end of a support tube, the amount of material required to support the trailer while providing a stable ride is decreased and allows for the movement of the wheel to decrease the thickness of the trailer during use.

The above embodiment utilizes three channels formed by rail pairs. This is by of way example and the invention functions equally as well utilizing as few as one channel or more than three channels. Additionally, the collapsible trailer may also be utilized for three wheel vehicles and four wheel vehicles, not just motorcycles used by way of example. Lastly, the trailer may easily be converted, utilizing runner type bearing members, to accommodate jet skis or the like.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made to the above construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A collapsible trailer comprising:a front platform; a rear platform connected to said front platform so that the platforms are pivotable between an open position wherein they extend horizontally in the same general plane, and a closed position wherein the platforms are in folded relation; a pair of wheels mounted on and extending laterally from one of the platforms for supporting the trailer in its open position; and a pair of spaced casters mounted to said one platform, one or more casters mounted on the other one of said platforms, each caster being fixed with respect to the platform to which it is mounted, said casters being positioned so that when the platforms are in said open position, the casters mounted to the front platform extend rearwardly beneath the rear platform and the casters on the rear platform extend forwardly beneath the front platform, and the casters being spaced above the surface on which the wheels rest when supporting the trailer, said casters further being positioned so that when the platforms are in the closed position and then rotated about the wheels to a storage position, wherein the platforms extend generally vertically, the support of the trailer is shifted from the wheels to the casters to facilitate moving the trailer in said storage position.
 2. The trailer of claim 1, wherein said wheels define a rotational axis and said casters are spaced from said axis an amount sufficient to cause the weight of said trailer to be shifted from said wheels to said casters when the trailer is rotated to said storage position.
 3. The trailer of claim 1, wherein said rear platform has surfaces which engage surfaces on said front platform to distribute a load when said platforms are in said open position, and said surfaces are disengaged when said platform is in said closed position.
 4. The trailer of claim 1, wherein one of said one or more casters is centrally mounted on said other one of said platforms so that said pair of said casters straddle said one caster so that a triangular support arrangement is provided.
 5. The trailer of claim 1, wherein each platform has one or more channels which face upwardly when the trailer is in said open position, each channel of one platform being aligned with a channel of the other platform, each channel being sized to receive the tire of a motorcycle, each channel having an end which abuts an end of a channel on the other platform, and wherein said casters are below said channels when the trailer is in its open position.
 6. A collapsible trailer comprising:a front platform having one or more channels sized to receive a tire of a motorcycle; a rear platform having one or more channels aligned with the front platform channels, and having a forward end abutting one of said front platform one or more channels; an axle mounted below one of said platforms; a pair of wheels mounted on opposite ends of said axle through a torsion suspension construction which positions an axis of said wheels horizontally offset from said axle; said platforms being connected to be pivotable between an open position wherein they extend horizontally in the same general plane and the channels of the rear platform abut those of the front platform, and a closed position wherein the channels do not abut and instead extend in face-to-face relation; said platforms in said closed position being rotatable about said wheels to a storage position wherein said channels extend generally vertically and said axis is vertically offset with respect to said axle; and each of said platforms having one or more casters fixed with respect to the platform on which it is mounted, the casters fixed to said front platform extending beneath the rear platform and the casters affixed to said rear platform extending beneath the front platform when the platforms are in said open position, said casters being situated below said channels, but above the lower surfaces of said wheels when said platforms are in said open position and are situated below said wheel to support the trailer when said platforms are in said storage position.
 7. A collapsible trailer comprising:a front platform having a hitch on a forward end to be connected to a towing vehicle; a rear platform pivotally mounted to said front platform so that said platforms pivot between an open position in which they extend horizontally in the same general plane and a closed position wherein the platforms are in folded relation; a pair of wheels amounted on opposite sides of said platforms and defining a rotational axis; said front platform including one or more rails extending generally perpendicular to said axis; a support arm positioned beneath each of said rails and extending generally parallel to each of said rails, a forward end of each of said support arms being joined to said front platform beneath a respective one of said rails, each of said support arms including a forward portion extending downwardly and rearwardly from said forward ends, each of said support arms including a rear portion extending generally parallel to a respective one of said rails, a vertically extending support member mounted on the rear of said support arm rear portion, a second support arm connected to said vertical support member and extending forwardly above the rear portion of said support arm and being connected to said front platform; and said rear platform including one or more rails which align with the rails of said front platform when the trailer is in its open position, said rear platform being arranged to be supported by said front platform support member and support arms, together with the pivotal connection between said platforms, when said platforms are in said open position.
 8. The trailer of claim 7, including an axle extending parallel to said axis, and a torsion suspension connecting each of said wheels on opposite ends of said axle, with said axis being positioned rearwardly from said axle.
 9. The trailer of claim 8, including a triangular frame positioned beneath said rails with the frame having a base extending generally parallel to the axle and spaced forwardly from the axle near a forward portion of said front platform, said frame further having a pair of angled legs which extend rearwardly and inwardly to form acute angles with said base and to form an apex positioned to be supported by said axle approximately midway between ends of the axle, said base and one leg being attached to one of said rails, and said base and said other leg being attached to another one of said rails.
 10. The trailer of claim 7, wherein said support arm downwardly and rearwardly extending portions extend beneath said axle, and said support arm rear portions are joined to said support arm forward portions at an elbow located below and generally to the rear of said axle.
 11. The trailer of claim 7, including one or more casters on the rear of said front platform and one or more casters on the forward end of said rear platform, said casters being positioned so that when said platforms are in said closed position and are rotated to a generally vertical storage position about said wheels, the support of said trailer is transferred to said casters.
 12. A method of storing a trailer having a front platform and a rear platform which are pivotably connected, said method comprising:pivoting said platforms with respect to each other from an open position wherein the platforms extend in the same general plane to a closed position wherein said platforms close upon each other in a folded relation; rotating said platforms in said closed position about wheels attached to one of said platforms to a storage position wherein said platforms extend generally vertically; and transferring the support of said trailer from said wheels, first to a pair of spaced casters fixed to said one platform, and then also to one or more casters fixed on the other one of said platforms as the platforms are moving into said storage position, said casters being spaced above the surface on which the wheels rest when the trailer is in said open position, said casters extending beneath the platform opposite that to which it is mounted when the trailer is in said open position, each of said casters being fixed with respect to the platform on which it is mounted.
 13. A collapsible trailer comprising:a first platform; a second platform connected to said first platform so that the platforms are pivotable between an open position wherein they extend horizontally in the same general plane and a closed position wherein the platforms are in folded relation; each platform having one or more channels which face upwardly when the trailer is in said open position, each channel of one platform being aligned with a channel of the other platform, each channel being sized to receive the tire of a motorcycle; a pair of wheels mounted on and extending laterally from said first platform for supporting the trailer in its open position; and one or more casters fixedly mounted on each of said platforms which are positioned so that when the platforms are in said open position, the casters of one platform extend beneath the other platform, spaced above the surface on which the wheels rest when supporting the trailer, said casters further being positioned so that when the platforms are in the closed position and then rotated about the wheels to a storage position, wherein the platforms extend generally vertically, said casters engage a support surface to facilitate moving the trailer over said surface in said storage position.
 14. The trailer of claim 13, wherein said one or more casters includes a caster centrally positioned with respect to said wheels. 